Chapter 889
Bentley, deprived of his divine power and exiled from the Land of the Gods, was stripped of his title as the God of Dungeons and left wandering.
However, even if his qualifications as a god had been taken away from him, the fact that he was once the God of Dungeons remained. Even as a human, he was still as powerful as ever. Also, the dungeon production methods and everything related to dungeons that had been ingrained in his head would never be imitated and copied by anyone currently. But he was left with nowhere to go in the land of the humans and could only keep walking.
‘Do I have to make a dungeon and live in it?’
He could probably build a cabin and live like any other human being. However, even though Bentley admitted and recognized the mistakes and wrongdoings that he committed, he still did not want to stoop so low.
“...Damn it.”
In the first place, Bentley was not one of the Continental Gods. He was born a pure-blooded god. He could not fit in the land of humans or hide in the dungeons.
If he had to be honest, former God of Dungeons Bentley had already given up on living. That was why he deliberately did not drink a sip of water even though he was walking in a desert under the sun's glaring light.
‘I truly became a human, huh?’
Bentley’s head felt dizzy, and his body was covered with sweat. His throat was so dry that he felt like they were burnt; he could not even spit saliva from his mouth.
Thud–
Bentley, who had no will to live from the beginning, allowed himself to lie on the hot desert ground and looked up at the bright and scorching sky above him. What a tragic ending, no? He felt like it was better to die than to live like this.
But then, at that moment, a small shadow covered his body. When Bentley turned his eyes, he was greeted by a familiar face. With a straight nose, sharp jawline, and bright eyes, this familiar face stretched his hand toward him.
Bentley, who was thinking about how freaking handsome this man was, suddenly wondered why the Food God came to see him.
“Bentley. I need your help.”
“...?”
Did he need his help? Bentley could not help but look at the Food God in confusion. Why would he need the help of someone like him, who had been deprived of his divine power and stripped of his position as a god?
“Why would a great man like you need my help? That’s nonsense. Can’t you just let me go and die in peace?” Bentley ignored Minhyuk and proceeded to close his eyes.
But then, at that moment, Minhyuk pushed something into his mouth.
“Mmmph! Hmmmph! What in the world...?!”
Gulp, gulp–
Bentley, forced to gulp whatever was in his mouth, looked at Minhyuk with wide-open eyes. Whatever he swallowed tasted sweet and refreshing and smoothly went down his throat.
Although he had adamantly refused Minhyuk earlier, Bentley grabbed the plastic bottle and gulped its contents. He felt delighted as if he had found the oasis inside this hot and dry desert. After drinking the bottle's contents, Bentley’s hazy and blurred consciousness finally returned to clarity.
“H- how can it be like this? Can water taste this sweet...?” When Bentley looked at the bottle, he saw the word pocarist written on it.
Bentley, whose senses were finally back, stood up. He had already lost his motivation to live. There was nothing left for him to do here.
“It seems like I have to die somewhere else.”
But just when he was about to turn around and live, Minhyuk said, “There is a dungeon that only you can run.”
“...”
A dungeon that only he could run? Bentley turned to look at Minhyuk.
“God of Dungeons Evas had given me the authority to run a God-rank dungeon once.”
“...!” Bentley was quite shocked to learn that God Evas had given Minhyuk the authority to run a dungeon.
This authority was much more significant than what Minhyuk or Haze believed it to be. Compared to other ordinary authority to run dungeons, the one that Evas bestowed had limitless potential. However, it would be difficult for ordinary people to utilize even a tenth of the dungeon’s true power.
Bentley’s heart thumped wildly.
‘Something that belonged to God Evas...’
The truth was, Bentley thought it would be better for him to run a dungeon of his own, even though his talent in dungeon production lagged behind that of Evas’. If it was the dungeon that Evas had left behind, then an outstanding and shocking dungeon might have been born if he had added his skills and talents in operating and managing dungeons.
Haa... haa...
Bentley’s breathing turned ragged. “What do you intend to do with that dungeon?”
Minhyuk explained the step-by-step process of his planned use of the dungeon to Bentley.
‘Sounds fun.’
This was the first thing that Bentley thought of when he heard Minhyuk’s explanation. Although he was no longer a god, he felt he could make an achievement far better than what a god could make.
Then, Minhyuk asked him again, “Bentley, will you run and manage dungeons for the Beyond the Heavens Empire?”
This time, Bentley did not hesitate. He now had a new goal in his life.
‘I will make a dungeon that no other god has ever made.’
Bentley grabbed Minhyuk’s outstretched hand.
At this moment, two big shots, who could not mix like oil and water, cooperated.
***
Hyemin’sDaddy, the God of Blacksmiths Hepas’ Descendant, and Dwarf Olger, the Golden Hammer’s descendant, were considered the best blacksmiths. They were beings that all the other empires and kingdoms coveted but dared not make a move on.
But right now, Hyemin’sDaddy was facing a considerable challenge. ‘The level of the materials is far too high. I have no idea how I can make them into that.’
Although excellent tools for war, armored weapons rarely appeared in Athenae. One reason was that operating just one armored weapon would cost a lot of money. Another reason was that the world's craftsmen had yet to create a proper and working armored weapon. So, most of the armored weapons that were being used were those that had been made in the past.
This was why Hyemin’sDaddy and Olger, who were trying to recreate Bless with the blueprint they were given, were facing difficulties.
“How on earth did they make this?”
“This is very difficult. On top of that, this is the masterpiece created by the production class gods in the past.”
Of course, what they were trying to make here differed from Bless. It was nothing but a lower-quality version of Bless. However, even the level of something like that was still far too high for them to make from scratch. They tried to manufacture and produce it, but they failed repeatedly because of the extremely high level of the materials and the problem with the blueprint.
Then, at that moment...
“Let me see that.” An unknown yet relatively handsome man, who appeared with Minhyuk, took the blueprint that they were making and looked at it sharply.
Hyemin’sDaddy and Olger had been basing the blueprint they had been drawing on the materials they had been given. However, for them to be able to produce a complete product, they had to finish and complete the design first. However, Bless was a divine weapon; its composition could not be completed even if they referenced it from the other armored weapons. Hyemin’sDaddy and Olger’s design only accounted for 12% of the complete structure.
The man, Bentley, grabbed the pen and began to draw on the blueprint that they had drawn.
[Bless’ design is 15% completed!]
[Bless’ design is 18% completed!]
[Bless’ design is 21% completed...!]
“...!”
“...!”
Hyemin’sDaddy and Olger were both very shocked. They put their heads together and worked without rest but could only complete 12% of the blueprint.
[Bless’ design is 42% completed!]
[Bless’ design is 52% completed...!]
However, that was where it ended. It looked just like Bless. As for the mechanisms inside, it was something that even Bentley dared not touch.
Bentley was the God of Dungeons. However, he was very fond of creating something and nurtured his DEX, which allowed him to make a monstrous weapon like the Titan of Destruction. However, he could not even dare to touch Bless.
Even so, what he had achieved right now was something that even Hyemin’sDaddy and Olger could not achieve. That was why the two of them were very shocked.
“Is- is this what Bless looks like?”
“Amazing.”
While the two were busy admiring how Bless looked, Minhyuk asked, “Is it impossible to complete the blueprint?”
“It can be completed. However, even if we can reach 100% of the blueprint and make it, we can only produce a titan with only half of Bless’s original power.”
“Is there no other way?”
Having only half of Bless’ power was not enough.
‘If we can only produce that, then many of the Beyond the Heavens’ troops would be sacrificed under the onslaught of attacks from countless enemy troops. We must kill as many enemies as possible with as little damage as possible.’
Bentley, who had been pondering for a long while, opened his mouth and said, “The Black Hammer Dwarves.”
“...!”
The one that responded to Bentley’s words was Golden Hammer Dwarf Lant’s disciple, Olger. “Do you know where they are?”
Bentley nodded.
“Who are the Black Hammer Dwarves?”
“They are dwarves born from the union of ordinary dwarves and black dwarves. The black dwarves are already extinct, but I have heard that the Black Hammer Dwarves have been living in seclusion.”
“They were the ones that helped me in producing my Titan of Destruction. And from what I heard, they were extremely outstanding talents that have helped produce Bless in the past.”
In other words, they were part of the group that had produced Bless.
“If they are here, can you produce a complete Bless?”
“Even if we can’t reproduce Bless, we might be able to produce an outstanding weapon that can rival Bless in power. Perhaps we can also make a few more armored weapons, too.”
Hearing that, Minhyuk knew that there was no longer any need to hesitate. After he heard of the location from Bentley, he immediately sent one of his vassals to discuss it with them.
***
The one that was dispatched to meet and persuade the Black Hammer Dwarves, the only beings that could optimize an armored weapon to exert more power, was none other than Locke.
As for Minhyuk, he had somewhere to go, so he posted about this on the guild chat room. When Locke saw the message, he volunteered himself.
Locke still could not forget how the Luvien Empire’s Duke Ruffiso had wiped out 10,000 of the Beyond the Heavens Empire’s troops and stabbed a sword in his heart. That was why he volunteered himself. And, of course, he vowed to do his best in this operation.
But Locke, who had done his best and given his all, was tied up and dragged by the Black Hammer Dwarves.
“...”
Locke deliberately left the troops behind and only went there by himself. He thought the Black Hammer Dwarves might feel threatened by their presence and would probably think they would attack them, ending in a war. Besides, he came here to make a deal, not to fight.
Minhyuk had told Locke to tell the Black Hammer Dwarves that they would listen to whatever they wanted. This was because the Beyond the Heavens Empire's life and death depended on this.
The Black Hammer Dwarves, with their rugged and rough appearance, looked like ordinary dwarves on the outside. The only difference was that they were all wearing black armor and a cape carrying the symbol of a black hammer on their backs.
Fwoooosh–
Fwoooooooooooosh–
The rush of heat from the bellows that the dwarves were manning covered the entire area and made it seem like they were being enveloped by lava. If Locke were to be honest, he was terrified of the Black Hammer Dwarves.
‘Look at their tough and ugly looks! And what kind of arm is that?!’
Their arms were as big as Ma Dong-Seok’s and looked like they could easily twist Locke’s neck in a heartbeat.
After being dragged for quite some time, Locke was forced to face the dwarf standing atop the long and high staircase. Wearing silver armor, he looked cool. However, the fact that he was 140 cm tall took away his majesty.
[Black Hammer Dwarven King Vernon has appeared!]
[The Black Hammer Dwarf’s Overwhelming Momentum has been triggered!]
[The Overwhelming Momentum has restricted your breathing!]
[Your resistance against abnormal status has decreased by 40%!]
“Keheok!”
The overwhelming momentum emanating from the small stature of the Dwarven King was far stronger than expected and had weighed down upon Locke. If someone weaker than Locke, like the soldiers, came here, they would have already fainted.
Black Hammer Dwarven King Vernon turned to look at him and said, “The Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor sent you?”
“That- that’s right. His Majesty is requesting your help. We hope the Black Hammer Dwarves can help us recreate Bless.”
“Bless?!”
“Did he just say, Bless?!”
“That divine weapon?!”
Even Vernon was quite surprised when he heard what Locke said. Bless was an armored weapon that was born thousands of years ago from the hands of their great ancestors. And they wanted to recreate it with their help? However, they knew it would still be complicated even if they were skilled.
Then, Locke said, “His Majesty told me that he is willing to grant whatever the Black Hammer Dwarves want.”
“...Whatever we want? Kikiki– Kikikikikiki– Kikikiki–!” Vernon covered his face, an evil and wild laughter escaping his lips.
‘He’s this type of character? No way. Is he going to ask us to help them conquer the lands?’ Locke grew increasingly nervous.
He could tell that what they would ask of them would not be small. After all, they were asking the Black Hammer Dwarves to help them recreate Bless.
Then, Vernon said, “The Black Hammer Dwarves have lived in the shadows for a long time. These hands that had produced countless armored weapons could easily drown the world in blood. However, we did not do so. Because we needed something, something that’s far greater than that.”
“...”
Gulp–
Locke gulped dryly, a groan escaping his lips when Vernon’s sharp eyes turned to look at him.
“I will tell you what I, no, what we need. Perk your ears up and listen closely.”
Locke immediately focused all of his attention on Vernon’s charismatic face. ‘What in the world do you want?!!!’
Vernon’s eyes almost turned green with greed as he looked at Locke. Then, he took a deep breath and said, “We want to grow taller.”
“...?”
“Just three centimeters taller...”
“...?”
Locke was utterly taken aback. Looking around, he heard the other Black Hammer Dwarves talking among themselves.
“If we’re three centimeters taller, then we can wear other clothes and look a bit more different...”
“Wow. If Lord Vernon grew three centimeters taller, wouldn’t he be 140 centimeters tall?”
“Kghhk~ If we’re 140 centimeters tall, wouldn’t we fit perfectly into whatever clothes or armor we want?”
“My god... 140 centimeters~!!!”
“If we’re 140 centimeters tall, we will look great in anything.”
“A hundred and forty... Woaaaaaaah...”
“...”
At this point, Locke realized that he was facing the most significant challenge in the world.
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